A team of teenage superheroes navigates the daunting responsibilities of their powers as a sinister force rises in their midst in Finding Silvereyes: Even Superheroes Need A Place To Belong by Daniel Sayre, a stellar second installment of The Quantum Parables series.
Glitch and his crew of heroic friends – Wingman, Dreamstress, and the Cast Iron Giant – have been keeping a low profile all summer, but it’s hard to resist swooping back into vigilante action when someone needs saving. Andy/Glitch is a reluctant leader, but a good one, remaining focused on keeping his friends safe, and their identities protected.
However, when the mysterious mind reader who first discovered their secret shows up at their front door with a warning, and an intriguing offer, the team cautiously decides to don their masks once again. With the Feds on the hunt for the superheroes that saved City Hall, perhaps working for a private benefactor is the best of both worlds: helping those in need, without worrying about getting tossed in jail.
As their team of powered-up young heroes continues to grow, and their hideout becomes something of a second home, Glitch is forced to consider whether their newest members are all on board for noble reasons. People are developing abilities at a faster rate than ever, bad guys are on the rise, and the world is standing on the precipice of a new age, so keeping that world safe may come down to Glitch and his ragtag fellowship of high-school heroes.
The key to great YA writing is not only to make the writing accessible to younger readers, but also impactful and relatable. Feelings of isolation, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and hopelessness in the face of a darkening world are increasing at a worrying rate in today’s young people, and this novel and series weaves these issues seamlessly into a superhero yarn with surprising depth. Importantly, the story never seems message-laden, but realistic, even within the fantastical premise.
The slow recovery of the Cast Iron Giant following their epic battle at City Hall is another standout storyline that explores trauma and the healing process, while defying the trope of invincibility so common in superhero storylines. Even secondary characters, like Enner-K, who initially seems dangerously different or “crazy,” are shown to have a greater and more meaningful purpose to play. Giving exposure to these types of challenging emotions adds depth and potency to the plot, in addition to the other powerful themes that will resonate with readers – embracing the things that make you different, practicing self-control, and fighting for worthy causes.
There are some sections of the writing that feel overworked and linguistically advanced, particularly when it comes to scenes with Silvereyes. His internal monologue and the accompanying narration feel like they may sail over the heads of some readers, and that distinct tonal shift feels a bit too extreme. On the lighter side of the narrative, some of the punchlines do feel a bit forced, or at least eyeroll-inducing, but the casual style in these sequences does make for a quick and easy read.
Despite the occasional issue in execution, this is a fast-paced and wickedly written adventure that is packed with heart, hard lessons, and relatable heroics, which has the rare combination of appealing to both teen and adult readers.
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